The ability to use a
stylus as a replacement for a mouse and write using ink on the display,
differentiates the Tablet PC from other Notebooks. This article
describes the different technologies used to make the stylus work.

Technologies

There are two major
technologies being used in the Tablet PC. The first is the Active
Digitizer from Wacom and the other is from FinePoint Innovations.

Resistive
Digitizers

Most digitizers you
have been exposed to through PDAs use an analog resistive digitizer.
The resistive digitizer sits on top of the display so you can press a
stylus or your finger to send input into the PDA.

Active Digitizers

All Tablet PCs have
an active digitizer. The active digitizer uses a special stylus to
send a signal to the display indicating where the stylus is on the
screen. Digitizers from FinePoint Innovations require a battery in
the stylus which lasts up to a year. You can read Microsoft's
specifications for the digitizer
here.

Comparison of
Features

Feature

Active Digitizer -
Wacom

Active Digitizer -
FinePoint

Resistive Digitizer

Stylus

Requires special stylus

Special Stylus w/Battery
(lasts about a year on AAAA battery, 400-500 kHz)

Can use anything on
screen, sensitive to additional touch such as palm.

You can use a Wacom stylus
with any of the OEMs that are using the Wacom digitizer. I suspect
the same is true for the FinePoint however I have not tested this. Yes,
the Tablet PC can support multiple digitizers at the same time. This is
what the PaceBlade does. So now you know more about the features and
capabilities of the digitizer and how it affects the Tablet PCs.